Normally, I'd post this in the Wash & Wax section, but since water spots are a fact of life in Arizona, I thought you guys (and gals) would appreciate this more...

So last weekend, the wife broke down and decided to try Mr. Clean's Auto Dry System (I think she had a coupon or something, you know women...). Details on the product can be found here:

http://www.comet.lt/mrcleanautodry/

Here's the test results from three different cars:

Test #1 (1996 Saturn SC2 Coupe, Dark Green)-

This car is the least of my worries, care-wise. It's lucky to get a wash at all, but usually it gets one once a month or so. Sometimes me, sometimes the autowash. The paint is in DECENT shape, but by no means fantastic. Fair amount of scratches. There is a small amount of clear-coat peeling on the spoiler now (a recent development), but other than that the coat is in good shape. The car has not been waxed recently prior to these tests for at least 4 weeks.

She used the full system (Mr. Clean Soap, rinse, Mr. Clean DI Rinse). IT WORKED! Water sheeted, spot-free shine, no drying!

Test #2 (2002 Honda S2000, Spa Yellow)-

She's my baby and the wife knows it. I wash the car at least twice a month, sometimes every weekend. It usually gets a coat of Meguiar's carnuba every 2-3 weeks, but I insisted no more than once a month while I'm away. The car stays relatively clean since it isn't a daily driver. It's garaged, uncovered and she only drives it a few miles a week to keep everything moving.

She tried hand-washing the car with Meguiar's, rinsing with the hose as usual, then the Mr. Clean DI Rinse. While spotting was reduced, there was still significant spotting and she was forced to go back over the car with a hose rinse and a rag to dry it. Don't worry, it got a coat of carnuba when she was done.

Test#3 (2003, Infiniti G35 Sedan, Black)-

If you're familiar with the car, you know it is relatively large in regards to paint surface area. Lots of flat spots, lots of horizontal surfaces, and we all know what a nightmare black cars are in Arizona. She keeps it well washed and waxed, but it is a timely process (I can fully detail the S2 in and out in the time she can wash and wax hers). Garaged car, but a daily driver with a handful of rock chips, some minor scratches, etc.

Again, she tried the full Mr. Clean Auto-Dry System (Mr. Clean Dry Polymer Wash, rinse, Mr. Clean DI Rinse). IT WORKED!!! Perfectly clean, no spots, great shine and NO DRYING NECESSARY!

Issues with the system

1. Price- To purchase the system initially, including the sprayer, etc. cost upwards of $20. This included one filter, one packet of Dry Polymer wash. I'm not entirely sure what the refills are running right now or how long a filter will last, though I suspect that will depend on the quality of the incoming water. In Chandler/Gilbert, we have relatively soft water (compared to say, Peoria, where the desert landscape creates some pretty hard water).

2. Summer- We don't have the luxury of being able to wash the cars in the shade in the summer. It's possible to wait until the sun goes down and work in dusk, but you still have a fair amount of heat. You would still likely need to work in sections in the summer months, and I don't know how easy this is with the system. I believe she did it as instructed, which is the entire car, one system at a time. But she had the luxury of moderately cool weather.

3. Long-term Effects- For the system to work, it is clear that the Dry Polymer Wash must also be used. The additive in the wash reduces the contact angle of the rinse water, causing droplets to sheet as opposed to bead. Since this works in the exact opposite way of the carnuba wax, it is unclear whether the dry polymer will degrade the wax and whether it completely rinses away with the water. If not, you will end up with a build-up sandwiched between layers of carnuba, which might have detrimental long-term effects.

At any rate, I thought I'd share with you all and get your inputs.

Thanks,
Dave

 

On another note.....

Just zaino'd mine........SWEET JESUS! It looks really good. I never have seen a paint job look so good. Did my brother's 94 legend too and that looks new again.

I recommend the Zaino......
-Lee

 

OK I keep hearing about Zaino. Where do you get it?

 

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

 

its only 8.95 for zaino? how long does this usually take? do you just put the wax on, wait for a while then just wipe it off?

 

Thanks Nownor

 

We have a local distributor that is great. He lives in south Phoenix. If you go pick up the stuff it saves shipping, or just tell him what you want via email and he will usually ship it right out to you.

Glen Swensen
email: grswensen@earthlink.net

Email and ask for his address, or PM me and I will send it. Just don't want to post it publicly for his privacy sake.
He's a good guy, and has a couple cool cars to see if you go over there!

JJ

 

www.zainobros.com redirects to....http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

Ahhhhh.........I got the $90 kit. Everything you could imagine in there.

-Lee

 

DAMMIT!

STOP JACKING MY MR. CLEAN THREAD, YOU ZAINO s...



Actually, I'd love to Zaino my car, but by the time I finished stripping all the wax, clay barring, and applying the 80 billion coats of that crap, my car would be out of warranty.

 

My wife is getting a new Mercedes this coming weekend, its black and will get a Zaino massage on day one. Its a PITA to get started but very easy and effective to maintain once the original clean and wax process is completed.